Daily Archive : Saturday August 2, 2014

News

Arlington Heights mom who saved boy rememberedBy Bob SusnjaraAn Arlington Heights woman who died after saving a 9-year-old boy from drowning in a Wisconsin lake was remembered Saturday for a willingness to take care of others and being nonjudgmental. “Throughout her life, she lived her life showing great love to those around her,” Our Lady of the Wayside's pastor, the Rev. Edward Fialkowski, said in his homily.

U.S. doctor with Ebola in Atlanta for treatment Associated PressThe first person infected with Ebola to be brought to the United States from Africa was safely escorted into a specialized isolation unit Saturday at one of the nation's best hospitals, where doctors said they are confident the deadly virus won't escape. Fear that the outbreak killing more than 700 people in Africa could spread in the U.S. has generated considerable anxiety among some Americans.

Aurora police step up patrols after shootings leave two men deadBy Katlyn SmithAurora police have assigned extra patrol officers to the city's east side in response to two fatal shootings in less than 24 hours, Chief Greg Thomas said Saturday. A 20-year-old Aurora man died this morning after being shot just hours after a 24-year-old Chicago man was killed in another Aurora shooting Friday. Police said they don’t know if the two shootings are related.

Two hurt in boating accident on Diamond Lake in MundeleinBy Katlyn SmithTwo people suffered minor injuries after the pontoon boat they were riding in on Diamond Lake in Mundelein was struck by another boat Saturday night, fire officials said. The impact of the collision apparently caused the pontoon's canopy to topple down, authorities said.

Israel: Soldier thought captured is deadAssociated PressIsrael’s military has declared dead a soldier who was previously believed captured by Hamas gunmen in Gaza violence that shattered a temporary ceasefire. The military announced early Sunday morning that 23-year-old Hadar Goldin of the Givati infantry brigade had been killed in battle on Friday.

Rolling Meadows Cornfest serves thousandsDaily Herald reportAll-you-can-eat sweet corn was on the menu Saturday at Cornfest in Rolling Meadows. More than 2,000 people turned out for the summer staple, picked hours before the event on a Lincolnshire farm.

Hoffman Estates Park District turns 50Daily Herald reportThe Hoffman Estates Park District threw a Party in the Park Saturday evening to celebrate the successes in the district’s first half century.

5 things to know about Ebola outbreakAssociated PressThe virus was first discovered nearly four decades ago in Congo in a village near the Ebola River. Since then there have been sporadic outbreaks.Five things to know about Ebola and how it is spread:

Police: Gurnee man hit by train drove around crossing gatesBy Bob SusnjaraRound Lake Park police said a driver is in critical condition after he drove around crossing gates and in front of a Metra commuter train early Saturday. Police Chief George Filenko said tje 46-year-old Gurnee man drove may have been under the influence of alcohol. Area fire departments had to extricate the man from the four-door Oldsmobile Alero.

Notable deaths last weekAssociated PressManny Roth, a colorful club owner in Greenwich Village who owned Cafe Wha?; Dick Wagner, the skilled guitarist who worked with Alice Cooper, Lou Reed, Kiss and Aerosmith; and Dick Smith, the Oscar-winning “Godfather of Makeup” are among the notable deaths this past week.

Dean Street a microcosm of St. CharlesBy Dave HeunDave Heun says if you wanted to get a feel for St. Charles back in the day, Dean Street was the place to be. It still serves as a microcosm of the city.

Riverside Drive ‘open for business’ in ElginBy Marie WilsonElgin officials shared a positive outlook for commerce with about 250 people gathered Saturday for the official opening of the $10.5 million Riverside Drive project. “Here today we know that we’re at a crossroads and on the threshold of a dream," state Sen. Mike Noland said. "And Elgin is finally open for business. It has been open for business for some time now but this is the...

Mud Run in Lake Villa TownshipDaily Herald staff reportThe Lindenhurst-Lake Villa Chamber of Commerce held its second annual 5K Mud Run on Saturday at Caboose Park in Lake Villa Township.

Northwest suburban police blotterBy Freida GadBurglars pried open the rear kitchen door between 8:20 and 9:45 p.m. July 25 at a home on the 2000 block of South Lee Street in Des Plaines and stole a purse, wallet, checks, cash, men’s vintage designer watch, two women’s watches, several pieces of jewelry and a camera lens. Loss was estimated at $25,291.

'Frozen' accompanied by blizzard in Rolling MeadowsDaily Herald reportMeadows Christian Fellowship Church used 8 tons of ice to make “blizzards” every 15 minutes between 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. Friday before showing the movie “Frozen.” Showing an outdoor movie is an annual community event for the church, but this year it added a twist, bringing in Snow Making by Sturm from Lake Geneva, Wis.

Syria rebels raid Lebanese town, capture troopsAssociated PressPrime Minister Tammam Salam described the attack as a “flagrant aggression against the state of Lebanon” and vowed that his government “will deal with the developments with extreme firmness and strength.”Saturday’s attacks came hours after the army said troops detained Syrian citizen Imad Ahmad Jomaa, who identified himself as a member of Syria’s...

Two arrested on felony drug charges in ElginDaily Herald reportAn Elgin woman and a River Grove man face felony drug charges after Elgin police served a warrant on a residence in the 1-100 block of South Crystal Street about 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Obama hosts 50 African heads of stateBy Julie PaceWhite House officials say the American interests in Africa are immense. The continent is home to some of the world’s fastest growing economies and a rapidly expanding middle class. The U.S. is also competing for those consumers with China, which surpassed the United States in 2009 as Africa’s largest trading partner.

Man, 18, shot at party in Elgin, dropped off at hospitalDaily Herald reportAn 18-year-old man who apparently was shot at a party in Elgin was dropped off early today at Sherman Hospital in Elgin with injuries that weren’t believed to be life threatening, police said. Police said the victim was driven to the hospital by an unknown subject and dropped off about 4:50 a.m.

After 12 years, Honduran man still waits for asylumBy Sharon CohenSome critics say it has become too easy to win asylum and the standards for demonstrating persecution are too lenient. A person has to demonstrate a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership of a social group. Kids seeking asylum based on fear of gangs often have trouble convincing immigration judges that’s the kind of...

Crashes minutes apart injure 40 in San FranciscoAssociated PressForty people were injured and more than half of them hospitalized in two separate San Francisco transit collisions just minutes apart — a bus and a dump truck crashed then a light-rail train and a tractor-trailer collided across town.

Toledo to residents: Don’t use or drink the waterAssociated PressAbout 400,000 people in and around Ohio’s fourth-largest city are being warned not to drink or use its water after tests revealed the presence of a toxin possibly related to algae on Lake Erie.

Chicago-area man gets life term for slaying son, 3Associated PressA suburban Chicago man has been ordered to spend life in prison without the possibility of parole for stabbing his 3-year-old son to death and sexually assaulting the child’s mother in a 2011 attack at her home.

Online campaign hits goal; Antioch Theatre renovation proceedsBy Mick ZawislakA campaign to raise funds for digital equipment at the old Antioch Theater has been successful so the show will go on. Owner Tim Downey said a $750,000 makeover of the theater, which opened in 1919 as a live performance venue, is ongoing. "We're going to work as hard as we can to be open by the end of the year," he said.

Teachers doubling as administrators for more personalized service at Grayslake charter schoolBy Bob SusnjaraIn what officials say is an effort to provide more personalized service, a Grayslake charter school will break from tradition and have two teachers double as top building administrators for the 2014-15 academic season. Teacher Tony Zamiar will be dean in the morning at Prairie Crossing Charter School’s Carson building. Instructor Kelly Smith will be the dean, or administrator on duty, in...

Comfort Dog Ministry launches program to help vetsBy Eileen O. DadayLutheran Church Charities, which started the Addison-based Comfort Dog Ministry, Friday launched its newest outreach: Kare-9 Ministry, designed to serve active military, veterans and their families. “Part of the healing process from moral injury and post-traumatic stress disorder is to feel loved and valued,” said retired Maj. Gen. James Mukoyama. “The Comfort Dogs give off a...

Batavia schools might seek voters’ OK to borrow for sports fieldBy Susan SarkauskasPlans to install artifical turf in the stadium at Batavia High School are firming up. The school board is preparing to hire an engineer to design the project. It is also working on a contract with the Batavia Bulldogs Boosters club for the club to pay for the turf.

Arlington Hts. Dist. 25 sees jump in foreign language class interestBy Melissa SilverbergArlington Heights Elementary District 25 is sticking with its plan to offer world languages to elementary students — outside of regular hours and for an additional fee — but a huge jump in interest in the classes has officials wondering if learning a new language should be a part of the regular curriculum again in the future.

Sports

Dodgers beat Cubs 5-2 on Ramirez’s 3-run HRAssociated PressHanley Ramirez hit a three-run homer in the 12th inning to lift the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 5-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Saturday night.Dee Gordon hit a two-out single against Blake Parker (1-1), stole his major league-leading 51st base and came home when Ramirez drove a 1-0 pitch into the Dodgers’ bullpen in left field for his 12th homer after a full-count walk to Justin Turner.

Mistakes lead to White Sox’ loss to TwinsBy Scot GregorThe White Sox' bats have been carrying the load since the all-star break, but poor relief pitching, outfield defense and baserunning were too much to overcome in Saturday night's 8-6 loss to the Twins.

Bandits blank Pride 4-0Special to the Daily HeraldFollowing Friday’s shutout loss, it was the Bandits’ turn to shut out the Pride as they took game three of the series 4-0.

Red Stars fall 2-1Special to the Daily HeraldThe Chicago Red Stars struck early with a 4th minute goal from Lori Chalupny, but Washington pulled out their own tricks, scoring early in the second half with a 48th minute Christine Nairn goal and followed by a last-second winner from Yael Averbuch in the 94th minute of the game, during stoppage time for a 2-1 victory.

Abreu quite a big hit with White SoxBy Scot GregorWhite Sox rookie first baseman Jose Abreu was expected to be an impact bat, but he has quickly emerged as one of major-league baseball's most dangerous hitters. Abreu is making a Triple Crown run in his first season with the Sox.

Reed caps HOF induction with catch from Jim KellyAssociated PressAfter delivering an emotionally charged speech that brought both laughter and tears, receiver Andre Reed had one more thing to do to make his Pro Football Hall of Fame induction complete. Turning his back to the crowd at the podium, Reed caught a pass from former Buffalo Bills teammate and fellow Hall of Famer Jim Kelly on the stage at Fawcett Stadium on Saturday night.

White Sox collapse late in 8-6 loss to TwinsAssociated PressAdam Eaton admitted he made a bad mistake trying to stretch a single into a double in the eighth inning of a one-run game. Alejandro De Aza said he should have caught a liner that fell for a two-run double. The Chicago White Sox made mistakes in the field and on the base paths, and their bullpen struggled again in an 8-6 loss to the Minnesota Twins on Saturday night.

Giving Forte a breather easier said than doneBy Bob LeGereThe Bears want to preserve running back Matt Forte by limiting his wear and tear, but that's easier said than done because he excels in so many facets of the game that it's hard to give the ball to anyone else.

Federico Higuain helps Crew tie Fire 1-1Associated PressFederico Higuain scored 10 seconds into the second half for Columbus in the Crew’s 1-1 tie with the Chicago Fire on Saturday night. Ethan Finlay redirected a one-hopper from midfield and Fire defender Patrick Ianni overplayed the clearance attempt. Higuain gathered the loose ball, evaded Lovel Palmer and struck the ball into the left corner for his eighth goal of the season.

Powell helps power Barrington to state Legion titleBy Dick QuaglianoBrad Powell almost did not play American Legion baseball this summer. “I came out at the last minute,” said Powell, who had planned to golf (scratch handicap) this summer. “But I really wanted to be with the guys. I knew this team was something and I could not leave it.” Barrington Post 158 is also glad Powell decided to stay with baseball. Especially on Saturday, when he came in to pitch four scoreless innings and belt a pair of hits to help lead Barrington to Illinois’ American Legion state championship with a 10-7 victory over Galesburg Post 285.

Several Bears’ backup battles coming into focusBy Bob LeGereSome of the Bears' key battles for backup positions are starting to work themselves out at the midway point of training camp, including competitions for the third wide receiver spot, the fourth defensive end position and the No. 3 cornerback.

Doctors say George faces long rehab processDoctors say Paul George’s biggest battle is yet to come, and it may take a year or more before he returns to the Pacers lineup.One day after the two-time All-Star suffered a gruesome open tibia-fibula fracture on his right leg during a USA Basketball intrasquad scrimmage in Las Vegas, the questions began in earnest about George’s recovery -- and whether he’d ever regain the form a that made him one of NBA’s most complete players

MLB trade deadline touches all basesBy Matt SpiegelThe Major League Baseball trade deadline offered something for everyone, and delivered like few others have, as Matt Spiegel explains in his weekly baseball column.

Western Am: 2 Illini in semis; Ghim oustedSpecial to the Daily HeraldThe University of Illinois hasn’t had this many players in a final four since 2005, when the basketball team navigated its way through the NCAA Tournament. Incoming freshman Nick Hardy and senior Brian Campbell survived two 18-hole matches against tough opponents Friday to advance to this morning’s semifinal round at The Beverly Country Club. The future Illini teammates could meet in the afternoon finals should both win their morning matches. Meanwhile, Texas-bound Doug Ghim of Arlington Heights was eliminated in match play.

Delle Donne returns, but her battle continuesBy Patricia Babcock McGrawChicago Sky forward Elena Delle Donne has endured hours of treatments over the last two months to combat what she calls a flare-up of her Lyme disease. She returned to action for the first time since June 25 on Thursday night and was happy to be back on the court. In this interview, she details detailed what her life was like before she returned.

Fire may sign Argentine forward, but could lose JonesBy Orrin SchwarzFrank Yallop and Brian Bliss have spent much of the nine months since taking over the Chicago Fire front office remaking the team roster. While one report says Jermaine Jones has rejected a $6 million offer from the Fire, sources tell the Daily Herald the team is close to signing an Argentine forward.

Business

Yellen ‘dashboard’ signals: Job market not at full healthAssociated PressDespite a step-up in job gains this year, most Americans have received little or no meaningful pay raise. Average hourly earnings ticked up a penny in July, the government said Friday, and are just 2 percent higher than a year ago — less than the rate of inflation. Hourly pay typically rises 3 percent to 4 percent in a healthy economy, Yellen noted in March.

Lotteries nationwide try to bring in young adultsAssociated PressTying lotteries to charity is a new, appealing frontier if Illinois Lottery Director Michael Jones has it pegged. “Young adults really care about causes, they really want to help things they believe in and causes they believe in,” he said. Illinois has games that direct money to the Special Olympics, Breast Cancer and Multiple Sclerosis research and has seen more sales among younger people with those games, Jones said.

Dismantling California nuke plant to cost $4.4 billionAssociated PressOn Friday, the utility laid out a draft plan for dismantling the twin reactors and restoring the property north of San Diego over two decades, beginning in 2016.As early as 2019, the spent nuclear fuel would be transferred from cooling pools to dry storage in reinforced steel canisters, where it would remain until the federal government comes up with a permanent storage plan.

Blast at China car parts plant kills 68, injures 187Associated PressA dust explosion is caused by the fast combustion of particles suspended in air in an enclosed space. The particles could include dust or powdered metals such as aluminum. They would have to come into contact with a spark, such as fire, an overheated surface or electrical discharge from machinery.

How to fit a wind farm into your portfolioBy Jonathan FaheyYou can now fit a wind or solar farm into your portfolio, even if your portfolio isn’t exactly vast. Energy companies are wrapping renewable energy projects and other power-related assets that generate steady cash into new companies they hope attract investors hunting for dividends.

Why Amazon wants cheaper books from HachetteBy Hayley Tsukayama=Amazon.com has finally laid out the reasons behind its months-long e-book dispute with Hachette Book Group, arguing that it is advocating for a new pricing and revenue sharing plan that will ultimately boost sales, lower prices and benefit the entire publishing industry.

Warding off lions with cell phones shows African technology boomBloomberg NewsMobile technology is revolutionizing life for many of the more than 1 billion people in Africa for whom services like banking, the Internet and affordable energy were previously considered luxuries, rather than everyday staples. And with wireless operators pioneering their own inexpensive smartphones, the continent with the world’s youngest population will soon have access to 4G networks and apps that will feed a consumer boom that’s driving African economic growth.

Facebook tries to ease your privacy concernsBy Hayley TsukayamaFacebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg once famously said that privacy was no longer a “social norm” in a society that seemed compelled to share everything. But recent moves from Facebook signal that Zuckerberg may be changing his mind about what privacy means in a modern age -- or at least how Facebook can advertise its privacy standards to put users’ minds at ease.

Facebook trades gift feature for buy buttonBy Sarah FrierFacebook Inc. is ending a service that lets friends send digital gift cards to each other, as the social-networking service revamps how users can buy goods and services.

Twitter: Govt. requests for user data increasedBy Barbara OrtutayTwitter said government requests for user data grew sharply in the past six months as more countries asked for a greater amount of information about users. More than half of the requests came from the United States.

Facebook’s Internet.org expands in ZambiaBy Barbara OrtutayFacebook’s Internet.org project is taking another step toward its goal of bringing the Internet to people who are not yet online, launching an app this week in Zambia. The Internet.org app will give subscribers of Zambia’s Airtel phone company access to a set of basic Internet services for free.

Review: 3Doodler is fun but quirky ‘3-D pen’By Peter Svensson3-D printing is all the rage. You can hit a button on your computer, which sends a file to a printer, which produces a small 3-D object out of plastic. It’s a cool technology, but it’s not exactly a hands-on way to make things. Enter the 3Doodler: the pen that turns you into the 3-D printer.

Life & Entertainment

Parents get final say, no matter whatBy Carolyn HaxQ. My mother-in-law wants my 5-year-old to sleep over at her house. The problem is that even though she has been living with the same man for several years and my husband and I think he is very nice, we still don’t feel comfortable with our daughter sleeping over at her grandmother’s house with him there.

‘American Idol’ contestant Michael Johns diesAssociated Press“American Idol” contestant Michael Johns, who appeared in season 7 of the hit Fox singing competition and was voted off in an eighth-round stunner, has died. He was 35.

RFK Jr., actress Hines wed at Kennedy compoundAssociated PressRobert Kennedy Jr. and “Curb Your Enthusiasm” actress Cheryl Hines are now husband and wife. The couple married Saturday before family and friends gathered at the Kennedy compound in Hyannis Port on Cape Cod.

On the road: Beach Butlers make hotel stay even betterBy Jacky RuniceThompson Chicago beckons you to experience a favorite Chicago summertime pastime with a private and luxurious twist ... Beach Butlers! Also. grab some krofne and dance to Serbain music at Serb Fest, at Holy Resurrection Cathedral in Chicago. Retro on Roscoe is a flashback weekend of pure fun, featuring six full blocks of great global cuisine, continuous entertainment, antique vendors and an antique and classic car & motorcycle show.

DVD previews: ‘Divergent,’ ‘Need for Speed’The Washington PostThe film "Divergent" -- the first in a trilogy by Barrington author Veronica Roth -- comes to DVD Aug. 5. Also out that day: "Oculus," "Need for Speed" and "God's Not Dead."

Dionne Warwick knows her way to San JoseBy Martha MendozaIn 1968, Dionne Warwick had never been to San Jose and didn’t think much of the song. But after the iconic singer recorded “Do You Know The Way To San Jose?” and the song became a huge hit, the 73-year old singer says with a laugh that she “cried all the way to the bank.” This week, Warwick is heading back to San Jose to be dubbed the city’s “global ambassador of goodwill.” She’ll sing that song, as part of a Sister Cities International conference, on Friday.

Award-winning perennials make garden design easyBy Diana StollWith a new sunny border to plant and great anticipation, you head off to your favorite garden center to choose perennials. You grab a cart and begin your journey — down one row and up another. With the plethora of pretty plants from which to choose, the selection may seem overwhelming.

Idea to shorten TSA lines could be worth $15,000By Gail ToddDid you hear the TSA needs your help? Apparently, they can’t figure out how to improve airport security lines, so they want you to do it. And if they choose your solution, you could collect as much as $15,000. But there’s a catch. Getting your idea registered is a lot like waiting in one of those security lines at the airport.

Colin Firth, Emma Stone riff on working with WoodyAssociated PressColin Firth had been hoping for decades to get a call from Woody Allen. Emma Stone, at only 25, hadn’t been waiting nearly as long — but she notes her family dog IS named Alvy, after a classic Allen character, and she can keep up with Firth in a spontaneous recounting of the bank robbery scene in “Take the Money and Run.” The two stars of “Magic in the Moonlight” were both working for the first time with Allen, and they sat down recently to recount what it was like.

Weekend picks: See Olympic-sized gymnastics at Sears CentreBy Scott C. Morgan & Laura Milbrath StewartCheer on competitors such as Olympic champion Kyla Ross and up-and-comer Makenzie Sedlacek of West Chicago at the Secret U.S. Classic Gymnastics Championships on Saturday at the Sears Centre Arena. Tots get a chance to sit in the driver's seat of some heavy machinery at the Big Trucks Event in Barrington Saturday. And Downtown Libertyville's MainSweet Dessert Walk coincides with the David Adler Festival of the Arts Saturday. All this and more in Chicago and the suburbs. Comedian Finesse Mitchell, a veteran of the 2013 Shaq All-Star Comedy Jam tour, continues his run of standup shows this weekend at the Improv Comedy Showcase in Schaumburg.

Selling a home furnished is risky propositionBy Edith LankQ. I am 70 years old and am getting ready to sell my house up north. I already own a condo unit in Florida. Can we sell it "as is," furnished, so this is not much of a hassle?

Experts on aging share care adviceBy Melissa RayworthThese days, many aging family members are being cared for by baby boomer children who live far away. Balancing careers and kids of their own, these grown children may find it difficult to move closer to parents who have begun to need daily help.

Baby boomers becoming long-distance caregiversBy Jean MurphyLiving far away from an aging or ailing parent is a burden that only those who have experienced it can understand. Your first instinct is to hop in a car (or onto a plane) to rush to their side when they become ill.

Serosun Farms now ready to growBy Jean MurphyThe owners of Serosun Farms in Kane County laid low during the recession. San Diego-based developer John DeWald and his sister, Jane Strickland, had spent years laying the groundwork for their innovative Serosun Farms project, located between Huntley, Hampshire and Burlington.

Yields are incredible when you invest in a larger down paymentBy Jack GuttentagAnyone looking to purchase a home within the near future faces many decisions, including how large a down payment to make. Many people put down as little as possible despite having the capacity to put down more because they view the down payment as lost money. But that is a mistake.

Discuss

The SoapboxThe Daily Herald Editorial BoardDaily Herald editors write about the recovering economy in the 'burbs, a touching funeral for a baby, and a state study that seems to lack purpose, among other things.

U.S. has a duty to help end conflictA Mount Prospect letter to the editor: I hope my members of Congress will support and work for a lasting cease fire that includes lifting the Israeli blockade of Gaza. The U.S. has a particular responsibility to help end the killing since U.S. weapons are fueling this conflict.

O’Hare noise here for a long timeAn Elk Grove Village letter to the editor: Bensenville voters kicked out Village President John Geils for fighting Chicago over O’Hare expansion that could only bring more noise and pollution to the area.

Quinn hasn’t kept his promisesA Naperville letter to the editor: I noticed that Governor Quinn and Senator Durbin were in the picket lines for a higher minimum wage. This is the same governor who said he would not raise taxes and raised them immediately after getting elected.

Why fashion agenda to placate liberals?A Warrenville letter to the editor: In Froma Harrop’s fevered imagination, the Democratic Party is a “sleeping bear” which Tea Party conservatives risk waking with their “blabbering mouths” and efforts at “self-aggrandizement.”

Environment radicals put nation at riskA Libertyville letter to the editor: I recently had an opportunity to read the editorial of Richard Cohen dated July 2. With all due respect to Mr. Cohen and as a lawyer with many years of trial experience, I must make the following comments:

Recycling event was valuableA Grayslake letter to the editor: I’d like to highlight the shredding and recycling event Sam Yingling, our state representative, held recently at Grayslake North High School.

One of VA’s problems is union holdupA Lindenhurst letter to the editor: I must respond to the Bill Spence letter posted on July 28. It’s the usual blame the GOP for everything wrong with this country that we usually here from liberals.